Episode one follows the Raincoast Conservation Foundation as they guide would-be grizzly hunters to shoot grizzly bears, but only with cameras. Raincoast’s Brian Falconer said, “When I first started coming to these places people carried bear bangers, they carried shotguns. The relationship we had with the bears was very different. It was avoid, prevent and defend. Now it’s respect and interact and that’s a complete shift.”

Director, Brandy Yanchyk said, “The Kitasoo Xais’xais and Gitga’at Nations, now have thriving businesses, providing local employment and bringing people from all over the world to view the elusive Spirit Bear and learn of it’s cultural significance”. The documentary also travels with Guardian Watchmen who actively patrols First Nations territories to enforce a ban on trophy hunting not currently recognized by the provincial government.

Later episodes tell the remarkable story of scientists at Cetacealab and the, “Marine Detective”, Jackie Hildering who in her work with the Marine Education and Research Society has been monitoring a humpback whale recovery and working to address emerging threats. She notes how “the revival of humpbacks provides us with an opportunity to remember our capacity for positive change and reminds us of how we’re still impacting them and, therefore, ourselves and the ocean we depend upon.”

About Brandy Yanchyk Brandy Yanchyk is an award winning independent documentary filmmaker based in Edmonton. She has made fifteen documentaries in the past seven years. Her productions have aired on BBC World TV, CBC, Rogers OMNI TV, PBS, TELUS Optik Local and at film festivals. @brandyyanchyk

About TELUS Optik LocalTELUS Optik Local supports compelling, original storytelling in British Columbia and Alberta by providing funding to filmmakers to produce their content, training to maximize their potential and exposure to new audiences. Content is distributed for free on TELUS Optik TV as well as online. @OptikLocal #watchlocal